Create Dependancies

Constraints

Critical Path

The critical path is a term used in project management to refer to the sequence of tasks that must be completed on time for a project to be finished on time. It is the longest path in a project, which means that if any of the tasks on this path are delayed or take longer than expected, the entire project will be delayed.

Create Dependencies

When creating a task in the scheduler, in the Dependencies tab you can indicate the tasks that have an impact on the task being created as well as the tasks that are impacted by it. Dependencies will also be used to determine the critical path, so it is recommended to create dependencies for all tasks in order to have an end-to-end critical path. The creation of dependencies is also required to have a functional Auto Schedule button.

Prerequisite

• There are tasks created in the scheduler

Steps

1. Select whether the dependency is at the beginning (upstream) or the end (downstream) of this task
2. Indicate the number of days to be considered
   • Note: unavailable days in the calendar of the impacted task will be considered in the calculation of the number of days for all downstream tasks. For tasks with an upstream impact, the unavailability calendar of the task being modified will be considered.
3. Select when the impacting task starts or ends
4. Select the task that has an impact
5. Click on the + sign to add other impacting tasks
6. Repeat the same operations for the tasks impacted by this task
7. Click Save when completed

You can also access a task at any time from the Diagram or List to add, modify or delete dependencies:

1. Double-click on the task for which you need to manage dependencies or click on the stylus at the beginning of the line

2.  Click on the Dependencies tab

3. Add or modify dependencies as described in steps 1 through 6 of the Create Dependencies section above

Constraints

Constraints can be added to set a required start or end date for a selected task. In cases where no flexibility is allowed for the beginning or the end of a task, constraints enable these dates to be respected despite a change in the date of dependent tasks.

Prerequisite

• There are tasks created in the scheduler

Steps

1. In the Dependencies tab, after tasks that have an impact and tasks impacted, the constraint allows you to define the type of date to be set, by selecting either Must start on or Must finish on.
2. Enter the date corresponding to the selected constraint, and click save.

During the course of a project, certain dates or durations may change. When the date or duration of a dependent task is modified, if this modification means that the dependency cannot be respected because of the constraint date, when auto scheduling is launched, the line indicating the dependency will be displayed in yellow in the diagram, and a grey arrow will point to the task concerned.

In the case above, the dependency of task 4.3 indicates that step 3 must start 2 days after the end of task 4.2. step 2. We have entered a constraint indicating that this task must start on December 14, 2023 (see #2 above). However, the duration of task 4.2 has been shortened so that task 4.3 cannot start 2 days after the end of 4.2 due to the added constraint.

Critical Path

Prerequisites

• Scheduler tasks have been created
• Dependencies between scheduler tasks have been added

It is recommended to have dependencies for all tasks in order to have an end-to-end critical path.

Steps

1. On the Scheduler page, select the Diagram view
2. Select the period of the scheduler you want to see displayed
3. Double-click on the timeline row to display the tasks and subtasks
4. If necessary, click on the arrows in front of the parent tasks to display the subtask
5. Select the View options menu.
6. In View options, select Critical Path, and click Close.